In 1980, Phil Knight, wrote a manifesto for his employees at Nike.

The goal of Knight’s manifesto was an attempt at capturing his vision for the company and rallying his employees around the mission.

At the time this was written, Nike revenue was $8.1 million. 

The year after this manifesto was published, the company climbed to $33 million. 

Now, a $51 billion (with a B) dollar company… the original ten principles laid out in Knight’s manifesto 43 years ago still apply to to any business venture.

The Ten Principles in Phil Knight’s Nike Manifesto:

#1. Our business is change.

#2. We’re on offense. All the time.

#3. Perfect results count - not a perfect process. Break the rules: fight the law.

#4. This is as much about battle as business.

#5. Assume nothing. Make sure people keep their promises. Push yourselves, push others. Stretch the possible.

#6. Live off the land.

#7. Your job isn’t done until the job is done.

#8. Dangers: bureaucracy, personal ambition, energy takers vs energy givers, knowing our weaknesses, don’t get too many things on the platter. 

#9. It won’t be pretty. 

#10. If we do the right things we’ll make money damn near automatic. 

Brief and timeless, like most good things are. 

I’m not saying the manifesto is the reason that Nike is now the biggest shoe company in the world, but that 300%+ increase from 1980 to 1981 is awfully coincidental if not. 

If another high profiled shoe CEO wants to write one, he or she better get to work. Adidas is the second biggest shoe company in the world by a modest margin of $100 billion (also with a B).

In a league of their own, competing only with themselves. “Our business is change,” indeed.

Does anyone have a wall I can run through after reading #7 and #9? 

Xo, The Salesgirls

Social is going to the Summit…